Michigan State shuts down South Florida, 21-6

Michigan State's Shilque Calhoun, left, returns a fumble for a touchdown against South Florida's Reshard Cliett, right, during the second quarter of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2013, in East Lansing, Mich. (AP Photo/Al Goldis)

EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Shilique Calhoun scored on a fumble return and an interception return, enabling Michigan State to overcome another poor offensive performance in a 21-6 victory over South Florida on Saturday.

The Spartans (2-0) rotated Connor Cook, Tyler O’Connor and Andrew Maxwell at quarterback, but their offense contributed only one touchdown. The defense has scored four of Michigan State’s six TDs this season.

South Florida (0-2) was routed in its opener by McNeese State, and the Bulls couldn’t get anything going offensively Saturday. Bobby Eveld was 6 of 25 for 66 yards with a fumble and an interception.

Michigan State’s offense finally scored in the fourth quarter when Jeremy Langford ran 2 yards for a touchdown. That drive was only 33 yards after a short South Florida punt.

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Michigan State’s defense scored two of the team’s three touchdowns in a season-opening win over Western Michigan last week. That included a fumble return by Calhoun, a 6-foot-4, 250-pound defensive end.

Calhoun opened the scoring Saturday with a 4-yard fumble return in the second quarter, and with Michigan State clinging to a 7-6 lead in the third, Eveld was hit as he threw. The ball floated to Calhoun, who returned it 56 yards for another touchdown.

Neither Maxwell nor Cook was very effective in Michigan State’s opener, and Maxwell didn’t play at all in the first half Saturday. After a 67-minute weather delay before the opening kickoff, Cook got the start for the Spartans. He went 6 of 11 for 32 yards in the game and also lost a fumble.

O’Connor, a redshirt freshman, came in near the end of the first quarter, and on his second drive, the Spartans made it all the way to the South Florida 3-yard line. But they couldn’t reach the end zone and came away with no points when Kevin Muma missed a 25-yard field goal.

On the next play, Michigan State finally scored when Eveld was hit by Tyler Hoover and lost the ball. Calhoun scooped it up and took it in.

South Florida’s Marvin Kloss kicked two field goals before halftime — the second came after a fumble by Michigan State punt returner Andre Sims.

Eveld was replaced after his interception by Steven Bench, but he returned by the end of the third quarter. Matt Floyd, who threw two interceptions against McNeese State, did not play against Michigan State.

Marcus Shaw ran for 94 yards on 23 carries for the Bulls.

Maxwell started the second half for Michigan State and went 4 of 9 for 40 yards.